NEW DELHI: In a much-awaited revelation during
Donald Trump
's criminal trial in Manhattan,
Michael Cohen
, Trump's former attorney and fixer, testified about the former US president's cavalier attitude towards his marriage amid allegations of an
affair
with adult film star
Stormy Daniels
. Cohen, serving as the star witness in the hush money case linked to a $130,000 payment to Daniels before the 2016 election, shared insights into Trump's personal reactions during the scandal.
As per a Newsweek report, as Cohen recalled, when he inquired about the situation at home with
Melania
following the surfacing of Daniels' story, Trump responded confidently about his prospects if his marriage were to end.
"How long do you think I'm going to be on the market for?" Trump allegedly said, indicating his lack of concern about remaining single.
Cohen highlighted that Trump's main focus during this period was not his marital stability but rather the impending election. “He wasn't thinking about Melania,” Cohen said. “This was all about the campaign.”
The testimony shed light on Trump's perception of the affair's impact on his presidential campaign. Trump reportedly expressed concerns that the allegations would worsen his already poor polling with women voters, exacerbated by the "Access Hollywood" tape scandal. According to Cohen, Trump described the situation as a "total disaster," fearing that while men might dismiss the affair, it would significantly damage his appeal among female voters.
Further complicating matters, Cohen also discussed the strategic responses devised to counteract the fallout from the "Access Hollywood" tape, revealing that it was Melania who suggested framing Trump's comments as "locker room talk" to minimize the damage.
Throughout the trial, Cohen portrayed a scenario where Trump was maneuvering to delay any payouts to Daniels until after the election, suggesting a calculated approach to navigate the crisis without immediate financial commitments.
English (US) ·